Food Safety Standards Comparison: Differences Between FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000

Corporate Secretary Service Indonesia – In the international food safety standards, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 have emerged as two important frameworks, each significantly contributing to ensuring food safety across the global supply chain. While they share a common thread in their commitment to upholding the integrity and safety of food products, these certification schemes differ in important ways that set them apart.

As we delve into the intricacies of these standards, it becomes clear that the subtle nuances of these standards have implications for industries involved in the production, processing, and distribution of food. What are the differences between ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000, and how do they impact their respective roles in ensuring the delivery of safe, superior-quality food? Let’s unpack the intricacies that shape their unique contributions to food safety.

Scope

ISO 22000: ISO 22000 is a globally recognized food safety standard across all links in the food chain. It covers a broad scope, including companies in the primary sector, manufacturing, transportation, retail, packaging, and cleaning materials production.

FSSC 22000: FSSC 22000 has a more limited scope, covering agriculture, food processing, perishable animal products, feed production, and food packaging materials. It focuses on a particular sector and includes a specific Prerequisite Program (PRP).

Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Recognition

ISO 22000: ISO 22000 is not recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

FSSC 22000: FSSC 22000 is recognized by the GFSI, demonstrating compliance with the highest global food safety standards and gaining international acceptance in the food industry.

Additional Requirements

Both standards have a similar structure, with FSSC 22000 using ISO 22000 as its foundation.

FSSC 22000: Includes additional requirements such as the Pre-Requirement Program (PRP), which consists of universal procedures that control operating conditions in a food plant and specific standards for Food Fraud and Food Defense (bioterrorism). Version 6 introduces changes such as reorganization of the Food Chain Category, expansion of coverage to include Trade and Intermediaries (FII) while removing Farming and FSSC 22000-Quality, integration of food safety and quality culture requirements, new requirements on quality control, food loss, and waste management, and strengthened requirements on environmental monitoring.

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Benefits of Certification

ISO 22000: Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, and customer requirements. This principle emphasizes continuous process improvement and applies to various industries outside of food.

FSSC 22000: Besides ensuring food safety, it addresses food fraud and external threats. Benefits of certification include compliance with laws, regulations, customer requirements, continuous process improvement, and GFSI recognition.

Ownership and Maintenance

ISO 22000: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) owns and maintains this scheme.

FSSC 22000: This scheme is owned and maintained by an independent foundation.

Latest Version

FSSC 22000 released its latest version (version 6) on March 31, 2023. A transition period allows organizations to prepare for the new version, including adding QR codes to FSSC 22000 certificates to improve traceability. Audits for Version 6 will begin on April 1, 2024. All organizations must complete their Version 6 update audits by March 31, 2025.

The latest version of ISO 22000 was released in June 2018, and the standard was last reviewed and confirmed in 2023, maintaining its current status.

Conclusion

Exploring ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 sheds light on the landscape of international standards dedicated to ensuring the safety of our food supply. While both standards share a fundamental commitment to upholding the highest levels of food safety, the differences in scope, recognition and additional requirements between them mark them as distinct entities within the certification scheme. ISO 22000, with its comprehensive and globally recognized approach, addresses a broad spectrum of industries beyond food.

On the other hand, FSSC 22000, which boasts GFSI recognition and sector-specific enhancements, carves a niche in the food industry with a specific focus on key elements such as Food Fraud and Food Defense. As organizations navigate the food safety certification landscape, understanding these differences becomes critical in making informed choices that comply with regulations, contribute to process improvement and deliver safe and reliable food products to consumers worldwide.

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